Tracer distributions in ocean models with lateral and isopycnal diffusion
In: Journal of Marine Systems. Elsevier: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; Amsterdam. ISSN 0924-7963; e-ISSN 1879-1573, more
Also appears in:Nihoul, J.C.J. (Ed.) (1990). Coupled ocean-atmosphere modeling: proceedings of the 21th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, Liège, May 8-12, 1989. Journal of Marine Systems, 1(1-3). Elsevier Scientific: Amsterdam. 313 pp., more
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| Abstract |
The time-dependent tracer evolution simulated by 1- and 3-dimensional ocean models is examined. The former model resolves only vertical diffusion with a constant vertical diffusivity, while the latter is a primitive equation ocean circulation model which resolves the momentum, temperature, salinity and mass balance in an idealized North Atlantic basin scale box domain. The tracer distributions over 100 years of simulated time in the 3-dimensional model are obtained for both lateral and isopycnal diffusive parameterizations. The basin averaged tracer distribution is used to calibrate the 1-dimensional model. Time varying tracer distributions from the 3-dimensional model, averaged over zonal, meridional and sector sections through the core of the gyral circulation, are then fitted to the 1-dimensional model. The results show that isopycnal diffusion leads to a more intense tracer front in the thermocline regions compared to lateral diffusion during the transient evolution. Implications for global carbon cycle and energy balance climate ocean models are considered. |
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